RUGBY MAGNERS LEAGUE:Leinster's affable prop is going to do his best to spend Christmas with an Australian slant, but without the sun and beer, writes
GAVIN CUMMISKEY
SOME PEOPLE are lucky enough to know a guy, while slightly deranged, who possesses the natural ability to drag a room full of people to their knees in laughter. In Stanley Wright, Leinster have such a character.
To the communications department’s credit, they rolled out the Cook Islander prop for some festive cheer in Riverview yesterday.
Now, all Wright’s comments should be taken with a pinch of salt. A good-natured human being if ever there was one, he brought a refreshing honestly and infectious chesty laugh to proceedings. It started with an innocuous enough question about plans for Christmas day.
“Spending Christmas day with the Whitakers’. We usually spend it there. Spent it there last year. Just down the road.
“This time I don’t think I will be walking out legless. Every time we go to the Whitaker’s we seem to come out legless – maybe not this year.”
What with the game against Ulster in the RDS on St Stephen’s Day. An Australian themed Christmas at Chris Whitaker’s ranch seems like a good place to feed.
“Ah, there was a good few of us (last year). Us, the Whitakers’, Rocky (Elsom) and his girlfriend. Riff (Alan Gaffney) came around. All the Aussies! We’re the only outsiders in there.”
Whitaker is now Leinster manager, last season he was still a player, and there was no game until the 27th so that explains a lot.
“He is always encouraging you to have a drink. He likes his red wine anyway.
“We usually play on 27th but this year it is the 26th so we have to go easy. Maybe just have a bit of toasted vegemite.”
For the record, Whitaker, Elsom and Wright recovered to feature in the 21-13 defeat of Ulster up in Ravenhill.
What about Christmas back home, must be a distinct contrast?
“Barbeques at home. Big party. Party Christmas Eve and you drink until the end of Boxing Day.
“Different weather. It’s very hot so everyone spends Christmas Day on the beach. “
All this talk of drink could be misconstrued if Wright had not played such a crucial role in Leinster progress these past two seasons. The man is a hero round these parts now. CJ van der Linde is back on the treatment table this week but the reception Wright received from the RDS faithful, after 28 minutes of Saturday’s dismissal of the Scarlets, when trudging back into the fray after a decent lay-off due to a torn pectoral muscle. It must have been a tough recovery period?
“Ah, not really. It was pretty good actually. Nah, they fixed it up in two days and then you got to be positive. A lot of time on your hands, which is good.”
When Wright first arrived at Leinster he was overweight. It prompted one cartoon character of a commentator to note he couldn’t prop up a wall never mind a scrum. A lean 19 stone two pounds this weather, Wright bursts into giggles when the subject is broached. He really couldn’t care less.
“Whaddya mean? I was a professional. Nothing has changed I’m still the same man from the day I joined this club.”
Really?
“Yep. I was always professional,” but he is betrayed by a crackling smile. “Just came here not looking very professional. I don’t really buy the papers but I heard. Some people had told me but I don’t worry about that. I don’t worry about what people say I just worry about myself. Get myself right and they can say whatever they like.
“Yeh,” he finally admits. “I think I have got stronger and a little bit fitter. Once you got strength and fitness rugby is an easy game to play.”
As you can imagine the supporters love to corner him for a beer.
“Yeh, I always talk to them alright. Just have a conversation.
“I think I’m the only one who talks to them! The others go out the back door. I come out the front door.”
Of course, this isn’t entirely true. Just the big man cheering up a room full of sports reporters.
For all the hilarity, the overriding impression about Stan Wright is you don’t want to make him mad.
